It's interesting how Romney used Akin's remarks to make a point about the Republican party. Romney said ""So what I think these comments do underscore is why we shouldn't have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making health-care decisions on behalf of women."

OK, so Romney claims that politicians shouldn't be making health-care decisions for women. How does he reconcile that view with the Republican party platform calling for a Constitutional amendment outlawing abortion with no explicit exceptions for cases of rape or incest? A family member of yours is raped and pregnant and, after much agonizing, you're considering an abortion? Nope, sorry. The decision is not yours - not if the politicians in the Republican party have anything to say about it. Here's about the most personal decision that a woman can ever make in her life, and the Republican party wants to take that away from her and impose their own decision and moral views in the matter on her. Talk about "Big Government" intruding into people's lives. It doesn't get any more intrusive than that.

"Sam" sputtered:
...Republican party platform calling for a Constitutional amendment outlawing abortion with no explicit exceptions for cases of rape or incest? ... the Republican party wants to take that away from her and impose their own decision and moral views in the matter on her. Talk about "Big Government" intruding into people's lives. It doesn't get any more intrusive than that...


Except you're wrong. Calling for a Constitutional amendment would mean that an overwhelming majority of elected representatives in the Congress and the several states would have to approve it.
Therefore, neither is true, the Republican Party is not "imposing" anything, nor is "Big Government" intruding. You should learn what the requirements are for an amendment to the US Constitution before you make such statements.

"Calling for a Constitutional amendment would mean that an overwhelming majority of elected representatives in the Congress and the several states would have to approve it."

If a federal law is passed, the states would not have to approve anything.

But you have a point: Romney/Ryan could not do it alone so we need to have as few backwards thinking republicans in Congress. Read what they said: they (the GOP), as a party, support a constitutional amendment to make abortion illegal.

And Romney (see his official website) has said that he would support undoing Roe v Wade and that he will appoint judges who share the same view.

So not only must we keep the GOP out of the WH, we need to keep the GOP from getting a majority in Congress... thanks for the reminder!

I meant to say that a federal law would not need approval of the states. A constitutional amendment would need the approval of 3/4 of the states, and considering we have quite a few red states, that may be possible, so it is important to not even get that far.

The fact that the GOP is even talking about amendments to make abortion illegal needs to be a wake up call to all women because this new backwards GOP is not the party we should support.

So the GOP wants less government? This certainly contradicts that!

Please keep this in mind: It's the economy, stupid! None of this social engineering and morality manipulation means a damn thing if you can't get a job and pay your bills. Enough with the distractions and focus on what's really important this election cycle.

stinky said: "Except you're wrong. Calling for a Constitutional amendment would mean that an overwhelming majority of elected representatives in the Congress and the several states would have to approve it.....You should learn what the requirements are for an amendment to the US Constitution before you make such statements."

So in other words you're saying that thanks to all the Democrats in Congress and in the state legislatures we have nothing to worry about. Thanks, I stand corrected.

i've known many women and not one has cared what any guy had to say about it; if they had an abortion...end of story.

none of my women friends care one way or the other if you want or don't want an abortion. they made their decisions and that was it...

grow up everybody...

I just want to say that although I will not tell you of my tax and income history, I do tithe 10% of my salary/earnings (I won't tell which) to the Mormon Church which, respecting the division between Church and State, spends millions and millions in promotion of anti-choice causes. After needing to think about it a while, I think I can say that the Missouri guy, Akin is his name I think, was out of line. One can believe in the sanctity of life at conception and, heck, not have to be so disrespectful toward women about it.

I may have said I was pro-choice back when I was governor of the state of Massachusetts, but, heavens, that was a liberal state and I was forced to say all kinds of things I really didn't mean.

Mitt -- Always willing to speak truth to power, unless it might cost him votes.

I appreciate the agreeance. What it comes down to is public opinion, which is pro-life in this country. As the GOP platform states, you do not have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness without life. It is the very basis of the founding of this country.

Many, many people in this country have not forgotten this, and they vote accordingly.

Always happy to be in agreeance. Unfortunately, stink, most women don't agree with us, gosh darn it, and then there's this sticky matter of the Supreme Court which was established to rule on laws without tyranny from corncob pipe smoking evangelical professional wrestling fans. Still, I remain in agreeance with you, and proud to have you as a supporter, stink.

I'm all for democrats accelerating the pace of their aborted fetuses. Whether other people follow suit or not is up to them, but the less dems that are brought into the world, the better. Survival of the fittest, while the dems thin the herd.

Liberalism is a Disease is right--it's all about jobs! If the GOP puts an amendment in the Constitution banning ALL abortions, how many abortionists will be put out of work? What's worse, every baby born is yet another American without a job! It's the economy, sdupit!

Good point, Ari. If the GOP succeeded in making abortion illegal, there would be doctors, nurses, receptionists, etc out of work. And the new unwanted baby may be born to a poor and/or teen person, and would need some sort of government assistance... but wait, the GOP is also trying to end welfare and stuff...hmmm.

The GOP makes less and less sense each year......

"Please keep this in mind: It's the economy, stupid! None of this social engineering and morality manipulation means a damn thing if you can't get a job and pay your bills. Enough with the distractions and focus on what's really important this election cycle."

Well, it is the GOP that keeps people talking about abortion. It was republican Akin who made that ignorant and very silly comment about rape, and it was the GOP that released that statement wanting to pass an amendment to ban abortions.

It seems like for the GOP, it is not just about the economy, since it is the republicans who keep talking about abortion. It is thanks to the extreme right that abortion is even an issue in this election....

This debate is been going on since the 70s, and I for one would be a daddy had it not been for a youthful indiscretion and a accepting attitude for abortion. This has weighed on my mind, especially more recently as I'm getting much older. More and more these days when I listen or read about the debate on abortion or choice, I have, in my mind been substituting "killing babies" for the term of "abortion" or "choice". So my question to everybody here is: When is it okay to kill a baby? Is it okay to kill a baby because it would be inconvenient or difficult? I'm sorry, killing babies is barbaric and breaks my heart. I know, I know, women have the right to do as they please with their bodies and I completely agree with that. But I still asked the question "When is it okay to kill a baby?"

Here is a press release (august 15, 2012) from a pro-life organization, about Paul Ryan on abortion:

"Congressman Ryan is currently one of the 64 co-sponsors of H.R. 212, known as the Sanctity of Human Life Act. He also co-sponsored the 2009 Sanctity of Human Life Act, H.R. 227.

The Sanctity of Human Life Act states that under "Congress' power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United State ... the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being, and is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person" and that "the life of each human being begins with fertilization."

The Republican party's platform states that "we support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children.""

Web Link

For the GOP, this election is not just about the economy, and their extreme views on abortion should be a wake up call to all, especially women....

Resident, give it a rest. choices have consequences. Make good choices, be responsible, act like an adult and this should be a non issue. If you don't, it's between you and your local baby killer to rectify the mess you got yourself into.
Can we now get back to the real problem....fixing the Obama depression?

Tennessee Jed said: "I know, I know, women have the right to do as they please with their bodies and I completely agree with that. But I still asked the question "When is it okay to kill a baby?"

I don't have a fully developed opinion on this topic, but I believe that most people would say that a fetus is not a baby. A newly fertilized egg is not a baby, either. But at some point in time between fertilization and birth I think that most people would say that, yes, it is a baby. Where to draw the line, though, is a difficult question (unless you're a Catholic or conservative Republican).

I personally would be in favor of a women-only national referendum to decide the issue. Only women should be allowed to decide this issue. We don't need characters like Akin who so flippantly and blithely express their views about rape and what it must be like to force a woman to have a rapist's child to have a voice in this vote.

I know I don't have the answer to "When is it okay to kill a baby?", for I too am in a dilemma. I only ask the moral question "When is it okay to kill a baby?"...and it still breaks my heart...every time.

Jed - When is it OK to kill a baby? According to our President, any old time!!
late-term? Check!
Web Link

infanticide? Check!
Web Link

Tennessee Jed:

When life begins depends on people's individual beliefs. I don't think men should decide on an issue that simply does not affect them directly. Like you said, it is a woman's right to choose what to do with her body.

The GOP is trying to impose their beliefs on everyone, because not everyone believes that a fertilized egg is already a baby (since it could not survive outside the womb). So many of us do not view abortion (in the early stages) or the morning after pill as "killing a baby" because we do not believe that a fertilized egg is a baby already.

Even within the GOP, some like Ryan and other hard core conservatives believe that a fertilized egg is a baby already, and yet many of them, including Romney's sons go through IVF which destroys fertilized eggs in the process:

"Tagg Romney and his wife, Jen, announced the birth of twin boys in May with the help of a surrogate mother and in vitro fertilization — a form of assisted reproductive technology that could be rendered illegal under the Sanctity of Human Life Act, co-sponsored by Ryan.

The bill states that human life begins the moment an egg is fertilized. But in IVF, some embryos are typically destroyed or discarded in the process after being fertilized by sperm outside the body."

Web Link

So.... when life begins is something each person must decide according to their religion (or lack of) and value system. You have the right to believe that abortion is not right for you, but you do not have the right to impose your belief on others.

Resident said: "So.... when life begins is something each person must decide according to their religion (or lack of) and value system. You have the right to believe that abortion is not right for you, but you do not have the right to impose your belief on others."

Well said. If we had a clear consensus of opinion among Americans on precisely when life begins, then the matter would be much simpler. As things stand, I think that it is best to leave the issue of abortion up to each individual's value system. If a member of Akin's family is confronted with a difficult situation in which the issue of abortion is raised, I'm not going to intrude into their family matters by trying to force my moral views on them. It's up to them, their value system, and their religious beliefs to decide how best to proceed. Conversely, if my family is confronted with a difficult situation in which the issue of abortion is raised, I don't want Akin or any other individuals or organizations forcing themselves into my family decisions. We'll agonize over the question and decide best how to proceed according to our values and our religious beliefs.

I think when it comes to decisions on abortion, all the men in the room need to sit down and shut up.

It's an issue for women to weigh in on. Women only.

Only a woman knows what it is to carry a child...and to decide when it is a child.

Perhaps the decision should be left up to each woman in that situation. Oh - right. That's what Roe v Wade decided.

End of story. It's settled law.

"It's an issue for women to weigh in on. Women only." Unless you want some kind of financial support from the father. Then, you'll be all to happy to include the person you had unprotected sex with.

Sounds like 'disease' is ready to run for Senator in the great state of Missouri.

Just another hater, using the site to vent all that toxic waste bottled up inside of him.

@ Cherrie,

Amen!
Makes you wonder if what really is a disease isn't Conservatism.

Well, the GOP has approved their socially backwards platform:


" Republicans emphatically approved a toughly worded party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and cut taxes "

Source:

Web Link